Possessing a familiar can be a great boon to any magic-user. Another set of eyes, an extra pair of hands, and a free test subject all in one. The problem is that familiar spirits can be a bit pricey. Your immortal soul may seem like an intangible concept when you sign the document, but when you’re looking death in the eyes it can suddenly transform into the most precious thing in existence. Binding morally neutral spirits can work for a while, yet they will always want a way out of their contract. The safest alternative is to make your own familiar. How one makes a homunculus is a secret known only to the wizards and alchemists (who probably keep it a secret because the methods are rather embarrassing, what with the seminal fluid and such). After synthesis, the homunculus must be raised inside of an artificial womb for several months, fed on a pipette. Once it’s complete, you end up with a lumpy, slightly transparent caricature of the human form ready and willing to serve. Be warned: making homunculi is not for the faint of heart. Even if you’re comfortable with the creation process and looking at the thing all the time, the gurgles of “papa” have been known to drive men mad.
